Career as Paleontologist

Following are the job roles and descriptions that a Paleontology can expect-

• Professor/Teacher - This the most common position offered to a doctorate degree holder.

• Research Specialist - This position requires fieldwork on a daily basis along with lab analysis.

• Museum Curator - This job role involves giving presentations to visitors, locating and acquiring new additions to the inventory. It may involve consultancy roles for acquiring funds.

• Museum Research and Collections Manager - This job role requires the professional to maintain digital collection records, public programs and education, training and supervision of the staff.

• Prospector - A Prospector Paleontologist usually works for an oil company. The main responsibility involves locating oil reservoirs. The professional needs to have geological knowledge and specific scientific equipment.

• State or National Park Ranger Generalist - Parks with a high concentration of fossils require such skilled palaeontologists. These positions are minimal.

• Paleontology Principal Investigator on call - This job role involves analyzing and searching museum records, reviewing geological maps and other research. The professional is expected to maintain records and prepare reports.

• Paleoceanography/Paleoclimatology -This field of study focuses on past ocean climates and Paleoclimatology focuses on biochemical changes. Their main focus is the geological history of Earth. It is an important field of study to provide a basis for predictive conclusions.

• Science Journalist -This job role would allow professionals to venture into media and communication.

• Paleoanthropologists - This field of study focuses on researching the origins, developments and evolution of prehistoric humans. Various archaeology and ethnology techniques such as comparative anatomy and radio-active decay rates are required to work in this field.

• Ichnologist -It is the study of tracing fossils. The career field is considered Earth Science.

• Paleobotanist - It is similar to the job role of an Ichnologist, but, it focuses on the research of fossil plants.

• Paleontology Lab Manager - This job role focuses on the industrial side of infrastructure.

• Vertebrate Paleontologist - These professionals are often hired as anatomy instructors.

• Paleocologist - A Paleocologist is responsible for conducting field research to rebuild past ecosystems, ecologies and climates. This is done through the examination and comparison of animal fossils, flora, chemicals trapped in air pockets etc. 

The following are the eligibility criteria to become a Paleontologist-

• For admission in undergraduate courses, 10+2 with Science as the core subject is mandatory. It is important for the student to have fair knowledge in the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. The student should have an aggregate of 55% from a recognized Education Board.

•  One can get direct admission to the course or certain institutes conduct their entrance exams.

• Most entry-level positions in Paleontology require a master’s degree in Geology or Earth Science.

• Taking up a double major or dual degree is a great option, from the perspective of growth.

• Masters in Paleontology is a two year-long postgraduate degree program. The eligibility for Masters is a Bachelor’s degree in Paleontology with aggregate marks as required by the institute.

• Students who have completed their graduation and have B.A. or B.Sc. degree or any other equivalent qualification in any stream with minimum 50% marks (5% relaxation for reserved categories) are eligible to apply for this course. The duration of the course is 2 years with a total of 4 semesters. 

• The basic eligibility criteria for pursuing the course is a Master’s degree in the areas such as Geology/ Applied Geology/ Earth Science/ Marine Geology from any recognized university with 55% aggregate marks.

Some colleges give admission to the candidate on the basis of their 10+2 marks, or they conduct their own exams. There is no specific entrance exam to get into these courses. 

Here are the course options in Paleontology:

Bachelor Degree Courses

• Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences

• Bachelor of Science- Paleontology (Honors)

• Bachelor of Science- Paleontology

• Bachelor of Science in Geoscience-Paleontology

Master Degree Courses

• M.Sc. by Research Paleontology and Geobiology

• Master of Arts in Paleontology

• Master of Science in Geosciences-Paleontology

Doctoral Degree Courses

• Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology-Paleoanthropology

• Doctor of Philosophy in Vertebrate Paleontology

• Doctor of Philosophy in Paleontology, Paleobiology, Paleoecology

• Doctor of Philosophy in Stratigraphy

• Students pursuing Bachelors of Science study a range of subjects. In their under graduation courses, students choose subjects like Geology, Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry. In addition to this, students learn various computer software which enables them to analyze scientific data in an organized manner. 

• Students pursuing Masters in Paleontology can choose subjects like Geobiology and Paleobiology. The fossil record, Micropaleontology, Taxonomy, Biodiversity are among the other specializations that the students can opt for. Since Paleontology is a vast field of study, one needs to choose a major subject for specialization.

• In Doctoral Programs, students work on various Research-based projects, which focus on computer modelling, data interpretation, palaeopathology, taphonomy and embryology.